Table 6.
Status dropout rates and number and distribution of dropouts of 16- through 24-year-olds, by selected characteristics: October 2008

Characteristic

Status dropout rate (percent)

Number of status dropouts (thousands)

Population (thousands)

Percent of all dropouts

Percent of population

Total

8.0

3,010

37,569

100.0

100.0

Sex

Male

8.5

1,606

18,948

53.4

50.4

Female

7.5

1,403

18,621

46.6

49.6

Race/ethnicity1

White, non-Hispanic

4.8

1,103

22,956

36.7

61.1

Black, non-Hispanic

9.9

535

5,387

17.8

14.3

Hispanic

18.3

1,232

6,721

40.9

17.9

Asian/Pacific Islander,
non-Hispanic

4.4

67

1,504

2.2

4.0

American Indian/Alaska Native,
non-Hispanic

14.6

43

294

1.4

0.8

Two or more races,
non-Hispanic

4.2

30

706

1.0

1.9

Age

16

2.2

93

4,269

3.1

11.4

17

5.0

216

4,349

7.2

11.6

18

7.8

337

4,332

11.2

11.5

19

9.9

413

4,160

13.7

11.1

20–24

9.5

1,951

20,459

64.8

54.5

Recency of immigration

Born outside the 50 states and
District of Columbia

Hispanic

32.8

766

2,334

25.4

6.2

Non-Hispanic

5.5

104

1,908

3.5

5.1

First generation2

Hispanic

10.5

254

2,419

8.4

6.4

Non-Hispanic

3.1

72

2,326

2.4

6.2

Second generation or higher2

Hispanic

10.8

213

1,968

7.1

5.2

Non-Hispanic

6.0

1,602

26,615

53.2

70.8

Region

Northeast

5.6

377

6,708

12.5

17.9

Midwest

7.5

631

8,414

21.0

22.4

South

8.8

1,191

13,496

39.6

35.9

West

9.1

811

8,949

27.0

23.8

1 Respondents were able to identify themselves as being two or more races. The White
(non-Hispanic), Black (non-Hispanic), Asian/Pacific Islander (non-Hispanic), and
American Indian/Alaska Native (non-Hispanic) categories consist of individuals who
considered themselves to be one race and who did not identify as Hispanic. Non-Hispanics
who identified themselves as multiracial are included in the Two or more races (non-Hispanic)
category. The Hispanic category consists of Hispanics of all races and racial combinations.
2 Individuals defined as “first generation” were born in the 50 states
or the District of Columbia, and one or both of their parents were born outside
the 50 states or the District of Columbia. Individuals defined as “second
generation or higher” were born in the 50 states or the District of Columbia,
as were both of their parents.
NOTE: The status dropout rate indicates the percentage of 16- through 24-year-olds
who are not enrolled in high school and who lack a high school credential. High
school credentials include high school diplomas and equivalent credentials, such
as a General Educational Development (GED) certificate. Detail may not sum to totals
because of rounding.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (CPS),
October 2008.